The Global Anglican Future Conference (Gafcon) has expressed “sorrow” at the announcement that Dame Sarah Mullally will become the next Archbishop of Canterbury, warning that her appointment “abandons global Anglicans” and will “further divide an already split Communion".
In a statement signed by its chairman, Archbishop Laurent Mbanda, Gafcon said the Archbishop of Canterbury can “no longer function as a credible leader of Anglicans, let alone a focus of unity", citing its 2023 Kigali Commitment in which it declared it would “no longer recognise the Archbishop of Canterbury as an Instrument of Communion".
The group raised concerns both about Dame Sarah's support for blessings of same-sex relationships and about her appointment as the first female Archbishop of Canterbury, saying “the majority of the Anglican Communion still believes that the Bible requires a male-only episcopacy".
The statement added: “Since the newly appointed Archbishop of Canterbury has failed to guard the faith and is complicit in introducing practices and beliefs that violate both the ‘plain and canonical sense’ of Scripture and ‘the Church’s historic and consensual’ interpretation of it… she cannot provide leadership to the Anglican Communion.”
Gafcon said the “reset” of the Anglican Communion is now in its hands, announcing that it will host a global bishops’ assembly in Abuja, Nigeria, in March 2026.
Despite its criticisms, Gafcon said it was praying for the archbishop-designate as she takes on the role: “Today’s announcement will cause sadness and dismay among Anglicans worldwide.
"We pray that as she takes upon herself the weight of this historic office, she will repent, and earnestly work with the Gafcon leadership to mend the torn fabric of our Anglican Communion."
Meanwhile, the Church of England Evangelical Council, who also takes a traditional approach to doctrine, acknowledged that Bishop Sarah has many issues ahead of her, but promised their support in prayer.
It said in a statement: "At home, the Church of England faces challenges because of declining attendance, financial pressures and their impact on sustaining parochial ministry. This is in the context of the significant divisions created by the Living in Love and Faith process. More broadly, across the Anglican Communion, in recent years there has been a significant loss of confidence in the role of the Archbishop and a cry for leadership consonant with our Anglican doctrinal heritage".
It continued: "We therefore pray that God will enable Bishop Sarah to hold to the apostolic faith and call the Church of England to recommit to the historic doctrines and formularies entrusted to it. We pray that this might be a moment where the current drift away from a biblical and Anglican understanding of marriage and sexual ethics is either halted or a way is found to secure biblical convictions in the Church of England for the future. Above all, our hope is that she will lead the Church of England in presenting the unchanging good news of the gospel afresh to our needy world."
Currently Bishop of London, she will legally become Archbishop of Canterbury at a ceremony in Canterbury Cathedral in January. That will be followed by a formal enthronement service at a later date, where members of the royal family are likely to be present.
